I'm Home

Reunion

"When do the kids get back from school?" asked Liam from his spot on the couch.

"School finishes at 3.15" said Barbara, knowing Lydia wouldn't answer because the young woman had fallen asleep "Lydia leaves around 3 to pick them up though. Are you going to go with her?"

"I'll stay here" said Liam, putting an arm around his wife and holding her close to him "Where's Tori though, she isn't old enough to be in school yet"

"She's out at a friend's house," said Barbara "Sky's daughter Luna. They've become really good friends" Liam nodded and smiled at his older sister, who smiled back. The two siblings were sitting on the couch together, their partners both asleep by their sides.

"Think mum will kill me?" asked Liam

"Oh definitely" said Barbara, running her hands through Adam's hair "and Sam and Hannah, you are dead. You've had Lydia worried sick, I can only imagine what mums been like"

"I didn't want to be gone that long" said Liam "but it just happened. I missed Lydia and the kids so much, it hurt sometimes"

"I know how you feel," mumbled Barbara. Liam smiled sadly and looked at his watch. He saw it was 2.55 and looked down at Lydia. The woman was curled up into his side, her small arms wrapped around his large torso.

"Do I wake her up?" asked Liam. Barbara nodded and Liam gently rubbed Lydia's shoulder. The woman sleepily looked up at her husband. "Hi kitten" Lydia smiled at the nickname she'd been given in her teenage years. It was one halloween when she'd worn a black cat onesie. Liam had teasingly called her a kitten and the nickname had stuck.

"Do I have to go get the kids?" mumbled Lydia. Liam nodded with a smile. Lydia sighed but stood up. "Fine, I'll see you in a bit sweetheart" she kissed him on the lips "don't go anywhere"

"I promise," said Liam. Lydia nodded and entrusted Barbara to keep an eye on her younger brother. Then Lydia grabbed her car keys and walked out the door.

"Lex, Will your sisters at a friends house so the house is actually quiet for once" said Lydia as they pulled into the driveway "If you've got no homework you can do whatever you want with me, Adam, Barb and even Beej if you can summon him"

"Sweet" said Alex "Adam said he'd play a game with me"

"You'll lose," said Lydia and Will in sync as they walked up the front steps.

"Thanks for the support and confidence guys, means a lot" deadpanned Alex as her mother unlocked the door. Alex and Will walked in bickering about why Alex would lose to the ghost and Lydia just followed with a smile, knowing they'd soon forget all about the argument and game once they saw who was home. "Barbara!" said Alex as she walked into the big room and towards the female ghost "Will and mum say I'll lose to Adam if I play a game against him"

"Sorry honey" said Barbara, patting her husband lightly on the head as he read "You will"

"Why does no one believe in me?" asked Alex with a dramatic sigh

"I believe in you, you drama queen" said Liam, emerging from the kitchen. Alex and Will spun around and spotted their father. Alex's mouth dropped open and she stared at her father, Will doing the same thing. However the young boy was first to recover. He dropped his school bag and ran towards his dad, leaping into his arms. Alex stayed still for a second longer before doing the same as her brother and letting out a small sob into her father's neck.

"Dad!" they both said. Liam hugged them close to his body.

"Hey guys" he knelt down but kept his arms wrapped tightly around his two oldest children.

"What are you doing here?" asked Will, pulling away. Liam ignored the question and studied his two children. Will's hair had grown longer, despite both his grandmothers and mother's requests to cut it, and he'd gotten taller. Alex was much the same, save for the fact that she now had a fringe. "Are you staying now?" asked Will, a tear slipping down his face.

"I'm not going away anymore buddy" said Liam, wiping his sons face gently "I'm staying here forever" 

That night found the family of 5 curled up on a couch together, the Maitlands had decided to leave the family to themselves. Victoria, who had been ecstatic to discover her father home, was curled up against her mother, sucking on the ear of her rabbit, fast asleep. Liam had Alex and Will each curled up on one side of him, both children clinging tightly to their father. Lydia was on the opposite side of the couch with Victoria, but kept her foot outstretched to her husband, and once they'd put their children to bed and said goodnight to the Maitlands, she curled up into his side and listened to the familiar beat of his heart. She was home, home in this house, home in his arms.

That night, Lydia Deetz fell asleep with a smile on her face.